Canon Vixia HF S21 First Impressions Camcorder Review

Playback

The playback system has been altered on the HF S21 to make it work with Canon's new LCD touchscreen. You can now swipe between images and the VCR controls are all located on the LCD (as touchscreen buttons). The 3.5-inch LCD was also much more bearable for viewing videos than the small, 2.7-inch screens last year. Canon also moved the playback mode button so that it is inside the LCD cavity (instead of being part of the mode dial).

Playback mode switch button

Canon has also implemented an HD-SD downconvert feature that will create a standard definition file from an HD file using an in-camera process. To use HD-SD downconversion, you must have two media options available (i.e. internal flash memory and a memory card). The downconversion feature does not work with footage shot using Canon's native 24p mode, but it does work with the rest of the camcorder's frame rates.

Connectivity

Canon's updates with connectivity are fairly impressive on the HF S21. Along with all the regular connectivity features, the camcorder also includes a onboard LANC terminal for connecting a wired remote. There's also the dual SD/SDHC card slots that we've mentioned a number of times in this review. Other than these additions, the connectivity features on the HF S21 are the same as last year, although the placement of the ports has been rearranged.

From left to right: Component-out, AV/headphone-out, and LANC terminal.		The HF S21 has dual SD/SDHC card slots.

Inside the LCD cavity you'll find one collection of ports as well as the dual SD/SDHC card slots. Both are well-protected by plastic covers. On the top of the camcorder you have Canon's proprietary accessory shoe that only fits Canon accessories. The shoe is the same as what was featured on the Canon HF S11 last year.

Canon's proprietary accessory shoe.		DC-input

On the back of the HF S21 you'll find the DC-input. This port is difficult to find because its cover blends in very well with the black plastic that surrounds it.

The USB and HDMI ports can be in the way when you're holding the camcorder.		We wish Canon would give its external mic jack some protection.

On the right side of the camcorder are three more ports. Two of them—USB and HDMI—are located right where you place the palm of your hand when you grip the camcorder. We really don't like this placement because it means you can't really hold the camcorder and have it connected to a TV via HDMI at the same time. These ports are covered by a flip-open door, however, so they aren't bothersome when this door is closed.

Near the front of the camcorder is the external mic jack, which is left completely unprotected. Leaving this port open to the elements isn't a good thing and we wish Canon had provided some kind of cover here.

The table below lists all of the connectivity options on the Canon  HF S21: